Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Dec 1 2004

Clerk’s office now has a race
Lorna Vartanian files to become the second candidate in the running
to become city’s top elections official.

By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader

GLENDALE CITY HALL – Now the city clerk race has some real
competition.

Lorna Vartanian, a financial accounting manager for a Los
Angeles-based law firm, announced Tuesday that she will run for City
Clerk in the April election, guaranteeing a contested race for a
position that has been little more than a political hand-me-down for
more than 75 years.

City Clerk Doris Twedt plans to retire after her term expires in
April, meaning an incumbent will not be running for city clerk for
the first time since 1929. Ardashes Kassakhian, executive director of
the Armenian National Committee’s Western Region, announced last week
that he will run for the position.

“I see the clerk’s office as a very dynamic office in its range of
responsibility and interaction with the public,” Vartanian said. “I
have a strong background in private sector administration. I see an
opportunity to bring my skills to the clerk’s office and to serve the
community.”

The City Clerk is the city’s chief election official, and the clerk
oversees the city’s records.

Vartanian and Kassakhian are the first to enter what could be a
crowded field for city clerk. Only six people have filled the post
since 1929, with elections being mere formalities. When one stepped
aside, he or she did it mid-term, and the City Council appointed a
replacement. The appointed clerks then ran for election as
incumbents.

The first open race in more than 75 years, along with a minimum
annual salary of $105,000, will likely draw more candidates.

“I’m sure the field is going to continue to grow,” Kassakhian said.
“There’s going to be other people announcing. It’s a long ways until
the election in April.”

If elected, Vartanian said she would focus on increasing voter
turnout and modernizing the city clerk’s office, including making
more information available on the city’s Website. Kassakhian
mentioned similar goals when he announced his bid last week.

One campaign issue could be whether the position should be political
or apolitical. Kassakhian has a background as a community activist,
lobbying for the Armenian National Committee. Vartanian stressed that
her background is in administration, not politics.

“It is an administrative post, and that’s what’s so important about
it,” Vartanian said. “The position needs to be completely neutral and
independent of any political influence.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress